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Jessica Watson - Source: Reuters -
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Solo yachtswoman Jessica Watson's family were keen to make sure that everyone knew about her strong Kiwi connections.
The 16-year-old was welcomed into Sydney yesterday after a record breaking seven month solo sail around the world.
Jessica's grandad, Gordon Chisholm from Central Otago, says they tried to put Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in the picture when he said Jessica was Australia's girl.
Chisholm said he and other family members shouted out that Jessica is a Kiwi but whether that was heard at the podium was not clear.
Chisholm says he and the immediate family were on a tender at the harbour entrance when Jessica crossed the line. He says they knew the occasion would be big - but not that big.
Chisholm says two other young solo sailors, Mike Perram from England who holds the record for youngest person to sail the globe and Jesse Martin who was the original record holder, were at the finish to greet Jessica. Chisholm says it was Jessica's mum reading Martin's book that got the whole ball rolling.
Several of Jessica's New Zealand side of the family were in Sydney for the occasion.
New Zealand adventurer Shaun Quincey, who endured his own battle with the sea when he rowed solo across the Tasman sea, has also congratulated Watson.
Quincey departed Australia in November 2009 to embark on his epic adventure, making landfall in New Zealand 53 days later.
He says what Watson has achieved is phenomenal and he hopes she can use her new-found fame to inspire young people and support good causes.
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